CASINO CONCERNS: Public and Council Discussion

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The Norwalk City Council chambers weren’t big enough to hold everyone at Thursday night’s meeting. On the agenda- a discussion about the proposed Warren County Casino. Out of the more than 100 people that attended, about a dozen people spoke with questions or concerns, many of them were against the project.

Some concerns included increased expenses for the city and its residents, noise, and worries over increased traffic.

It was the second time the council opened its meeting to public comment on the issue, but it was the first time council members could respond. Some councilmen and women talked of how the casino could be an investment in commercial growth, and bring more money and jobs to the city. But they also raised some concerns of their own. One council member commented that the debate was tearing the city apart. Another, spoke of the large amount of misinformation and fear that is out there about the project.

There is a vote on May 7th that if passed, would allow gambling in Warren County. That would just be the first step of many before a casino could be built in Norwalk.